Solomon Islands National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)

Introduction

National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) provide a process for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify priority activities that respond to their immediate needs to adapt to climate change, ultimately leading to the implementation of projects aimed at reducing the economic and social costs of climate change. The Solomon Islands NAPA has determined, through a broad national consultative process, that agriculture, human settlements, water and sanitation and human health are priority vulnerable sectors requiring urgent support to enhance resilience against the predicted impacts of climate change.

Project Details

As a Least Developed Country (LDC) and Small Island Developing State (SIDS), climate change is the most important environmental and developmental issue for Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is a low-lying coastal country that shares similar sustainable development challenges, including small population, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, and excessive dependence on international trade and foreign aid. Its growth and development is often further stymied by high transportation and communication costs, disproportionately expensive public administration and infrastructure due to its small size, and little to no opportunity to create economies of scale.

Solomon Islands has particular problems and concerns in dealing with the effects of climate change, variability and extreme events. As an LDC, it is recognised under Articles 4.8 and 4.9 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as being the most vulnerable countries to the adverse impacts of climate change. Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Convention, particularly requires “That Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries in their actions with regard to funding and transfer of technology.”

Climate change will be a major impediment to the achievement of sustainable development in Solomon Islands, as all economic and social sectors are likely to be adversely affected, and the cost of adaptation will be disproportionately high, relative to gross domestic product (GDP). In attempting to integrate adaptation strategies into its sustainable development agenda, Solomon Islands will be confronted by many challenges including insufficient resources, prioritization of adaptation measures and uncertainties over climate change projections and adaptation strategies. The need to implement adaptation measures with some urgency has been often reinforced by the adverse impacts already being experienced in the country and highlighted in numerous national and regional workshops, meetings and conferences. It has been suggested that risk-reduction strategies together with other sectoral policy initiatives in areas such as sustainable development planning, disaster prevention and management, integrated coastal zone management and health care planning should be employed.

The successful adaptation in Solomon Islands will depend on supportive institutions, finance, information and technological support. Thus an adaptation strategy for the Solomon Islands should include a strategy for precautionary adaptation since it is difficult to predict far in advance how climate change will affect a particular site, sector or community. Thus adopting a “no regrets” adaptation measures would be justified even in the absence of climate change, as this would more than likely lead to better management of natural resources and sustainable development. The Solomon Islands national adaptation programmes of action is therefore a channel of communication and dissemination of its urgent and immediate needs for adaptation to adverse effects of climate change.

NAPA will communicate priority activities addressing the urgent and immediate needs and concerns of Solomon Islands, relating to adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change. NAPA was prepared through a consultative process using a country team approach, a national synthesis of information covering the various sectors of the economy, a vulnerability analysis and community and/or village consultations. The consultative process facilitated the identification and prioritisation of key adaptation sectors. The key sectors covered in the synthesis of vulnerability and adaptation included the following: agriculture, water resources, health, energy, mining, education, training, public awareness and information, waste management, tourism, environment, forestry, mining, infrastructure development, trade and industry, fisheries and marine resources and human settlements.

The priority sectors where adaptation actions are urgently needed were identified through synthesis of existing information on vulnerability and adaptation, community consultations and from vulnerability analysis conducted by the NAPA Team. A multi-criteria analysis and ranking was used to prioritize the sectors. Based on the high ranking of the priority sectors (i.e. sectors with importance factor of 10 and above) and the greater likelihood of accessing funding support from the Least Developed Countries Fund for the implementation thereof, a total of seven project profiles were developed.

The project profiles have been designed to reflect the need for urgent and immediate adaptation actions in agriculture and food security, water supply and sanitation, education, awareness and information, human settlements, human health, waste management, fisheries and marine resources, infrastructure, coastal protection, and tourism. Agriculture and food security, water supply and sanitation, human settlements, human health, education, awareness and information have been included in one project, while each of the others (fisheries and marine resources, infrastructure, waste management, coastal protection and tourism) has one project profile. In addition, given the highly urgent need for adaptation action in low-lying and artificial islands it was decided to develop one project profile focusing on urgent adaptation action to be implemented in these areas.

Through improved capacity building and project identification, government agencies and other actors will increase their abilities to insulate at risk urban and rural populations from the adverse effects of climate change.

Implementing Agencies & Partnering Organizations:

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Government of Solomon Islands

Climate change adaptation on low-lying and artificially built-up islands in Malaita and Temotu

Waste management

Coastal protection

Fisheries and marine resources

Infrastructure development

Tourism

Potential Adaptation Measures

Agriculture and Food Security

Improve and conserve soils

Develop new crops

Water Resources

Increase water supply, e.g. by using groundwater, building reservoirs, improving or stabilizing watershed management, desalination

Improve or develop water management

Coastal Zones and Marine Ecosystems

Protect, including building sea walls, and beach nourishment

Expected Outputs:

The NAPA will include a countrywide set of strategies for undertaking the immediate and urgent actions required to address the adverse impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. These strategies will include planning, prevention, survival and recovery options for both the immediate and near-term future. The development of the NAPA will only be the first step in an ongoing process of research, action, evaluation and revision.

Adaptation Needs and Priorities

The most significant impacts of climate change for the Solomon Islands are expected to be due to the effect of rising temperatures on flora and fauna and sea level rise (SIMCTA, 2004). Anticipated impacts of climate changes for different sectors within the Solomon Islands, as well as some potential adaptation strategies, are presented below:

Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture: An increase in the duration, frequency and intensity of cyclones, along with salt water intrusions, would decrease crop yields. Potential adaptation actions include: (1) National Food Security Program and provincial food banks, (2) Crop diversification, (3) Research into and breeding of salt-tolerant root crops and drought resistant crops, (4) Improved water and soil conservation programs, (4) Intercropping and hydroponics, (5) National urban fruit tree planting.

Coastal Environments and Systems: Coastal areas may experience flooding and erosion, and coral bleaching may occur due to an increase in sea temperature. Mangrove forests are also at risk because the effects of sea level rise on their habitats. Potential adaptation actions include: (1) Protection of mangrove areas, (2) Re-vegetation of shore areas, (3), Resettlement of urban areas.

Human Health: Some strains of malaria are endemic to the Solomon Islands, and eradication programs have thus far been inefficient. Extreme weather events, especially flooding, will create ideal conditions for mosquitos to breed and may increase the prevalence of malaria. Potential adaptation actions include: (1) Malaria awareness program, (2) Use of bed nets and mosquito eradication, (3) Improvement of medical services, (4) Capacity building for understanding the relationship between climate change and variability.